Can opening and contents dispensing device



March 9, 1954 KUEHN 2,671,576

CAN OPENING AND CONTENTS DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1952 I I t 1 immmir Hallie? ilhn His Attorn e55 Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENING AND CONTENTS DISPENSING DEVICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to can openers and particularly to improvements in the can opener and dispenser disclosed in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,558,541, granted March 11, 1952.

A common domestic practice in opening tin cans containing fluids, such as milk, fruit juices, syrups and the like, is merely to punch two, diametrically opposed holes in the top of the can. One of these holes is used to dispense the fluid while the other functions to admit air into the can. This method is at best inadequate, messy, and highly unsanitary. The liquids being dispensed have a tendency-to spill over the side of the can, and also to collect on the top and solidify, thereby clogging the dispensing hole.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improvement in the device disclosed in my Letters Patent aforesaid, whereby leakage of the can contents between the opening and dispensing device and the top of the can is prevented. A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be readily taken apart so that it may be maintained thoroughly clean.

I accomplish these objects by means of the novel combination and arrangement of elements described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tin can with my device locked on the top thereof;

Fig. 2 is an exploded, enlarged, perspective view of my device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged front elevation view of my device positioned on top of a can;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged, fragmentary, sectional views in the plane 55 of Fig. 1, showing the means for locking my device to a can in two different positions;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged section of Fig. l in the plane E--6; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view of Fig. 6 in the broken plane 'l-l.

Referring to the drawing- My device comprises a flat, elongated element l, which forms the main structural member of the device. Turned down at the front end of this element are two fiat hooks 2, each of which is adapted to engage the underneath part of the rim of a tin can 3. Centrally-disposed between these two hook portions and extending a substantial distance beyond the hooked end of the element I, is a spout 4 having a concave cross sec tion. The spout 4 extends rearwardly and merges with the struck out portion 5 which has a depending, pointed, sharpened end 6. The lateral edges of the element l which extend from the front thereof to a zone slightly beyond the struck out portion 5 are bent upwardly and outwardly at about a i5 angle to the plane of the flat element 1 as shown at 1. Adapted to slide on these edges and fit snugly thereon, is a cover 8 having an opening 9 in the front thereof which straddles the spout 4. Adjacent the rear end of the element I is the means for lockin the device to the can and which comprises a triangular blade in which is riveted or otherwise secured to the shaft II, which is rotatably mounted in the element I. Washers l2 and 13 secured to the shaft 1 l on either side of the element I, prevent vertical movement of the shaft H and maintain at least the upper corners of the blade H1 in spaced relation to the lower Washer. At the top of the shaft II and fastened at right angles thereto, is a handle 14, by means of which the blade and shaft may be turned. The edges of the blade 10 are sharpened and the width at the top thereof exceeds the maximum thickness of the blade and shaft.

The foregoing structure is substantially that illustrated in my Letters Patent aforesaid and it will be apparent, that, since the rear of the element 1 is slightly above the top of the can 3, due to the presence of the washer I3 (see Figs. i and 5) and the front end of the element 1 rests on the rim of the can, there is a space between the bottom of the element l and the top of the can. Because of this space, unless the can is tilted carefully to pour the contents from the spout d, the contents may flow under the element 9 over the top of the can. In order to prevent this, I have provided a bifurcated element, best shown at 15 in Fig. 2, which has a depending sleeve 16 and a rearwardly extending top flange l'l conforming to the tapering or pointed portion of the opening 18 in the element I. The element 15 also has a continuous groove l9 extending around the outer side thereof adjacent the top, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and '7. The element 15 at the top thereof is thus designed to fit closely within the opening formed in the element I by strikin down the portion 5. In order to maintain the element I5 in cooperation with the element I so that it forms, with the struck down portion 5, a laterally enclosed passage between the interior of the can 3 and the spout 4, I have provided notches 28, one only of which isshown in Fig. 2, in the opposite edges of the struck down portion 5 just below the bottom of the element 1. These notches are adapted to receive the branches of the bifurcated element 2| which is pushed into and through the grooves l9. In order readily to retract the element 2| to detach the element l5 from the element 1 for cleaning, I have provided the element 2| at the end thereof with a depending portion 22.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided my can opening and contents dispensing device with means forming a laterally enclosed passage for the flow of the contents of the can 3 into the spout 4.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the element I5 may, if desired, be permanently soldered or otherwise secured to 'theelement I, thus dispensing with the holding element 2|.

What I claim is-- l. A. device adapted foropening and dispensing the contents of cans having an 'end rimprnje'ctingslig'htly beyond'the side thereof; saiddevicecomprising a fiat, elongated,-metal-elem'ent adapted tolie on top of said can; said element having laterally spa'ced,'depending hooks at one end thereof adapted to engage the under part of said rim, an opening therein adjacent said end='-formed 'by striking downwardly a" centrally disposedportion thereof; said-struck'down portion-'being-pointed at-its lower end adapting it to=penetrate-the top of said can, and the portion of said element between said hooks being depressed to-forma shallowdischarge trough extending from a point beyond said hooks to-an'd merging with said struck down portion; means for locking said device to the top of said can comprising a fiat, pointed blade rotatably mounted in said element adapted to be forced through the top of said can and having a handle thereon for turning said blade and locking said device to said can; and a bifurcated element having a depending sleeve adapted to fit closely in the openingformeddn said can by said struck down portion, and cooperating with said struck down portion to form a laterally enclosed passage between the interior of said can and said trough.

2. Thestructure set forth in claim 1 together with means 'detachably securing said bifurcated element to said flat element.

3. The str-ucture set forth in claim 1 in which said bifurcated element is provided at the top HARRY E. KUEHN.

References Cited in the file of this .patent UNITED STATES PATEN'IS Number Name I Date "2,024,913 Dilley Dec. 17, 1935 2,184,632 Clawson Dec. 26, 1939 

